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Draining radiators (for fitting insulation) |
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| message from Z on 19 May 2004 |
I have some insulation to fit behind radiators on gas central heating
system.
The boiler is a condensing type and the timer an electro-mechanical has
one channel but switch for HW & CH / HW only.
May I drain only radiator piping circuit to remove radiators. Then
while working on the insualtion and blasting and re-painting or
radiators can I run the system on HW only with the radiator valves
turned shut?
I'm not impressed wiith the range of insulations available for behind
radiators I ended up going to Dodge City and getting polystyrene backed
foil. Is there nothing better than this something with good insulating
properties and a good fire rating (low smoke and fume, flame retardent,
zero halogen etc.)?
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| BillV replied to Z on 19 May 2004 |
probably not .. too risky
Tell me, this post is surely a windup?
What good would insulation be behind a radiator?
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| Ian Stirling replied to BillV on 19 May 2004 |
The wall next to the radiator is heated to about the same temperature
as the radiator.
It's going to lose much, much, much more heat to the outside than
the wall just next to it.
Insulating extra behind radiators on outside walls can be a good idea
in some circumstances.
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| BillV replied to Ian Stirling on 20 May 2004 |
But could you get enough insulation behind the average rad to do any good?
There's bugger all behind most of mine and if the gap was filled with
insulation wouldn't that stop the convection effect?
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| Ian Stirling replied to BillV on 20 May 2004 |
That is the other problem.
A thin sheet of high insulation value stuff, with foil on the side near
the rad probably won't hurt.
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| Christian McArdle replied to BillV on 20 May 2004 |
I have some. It seems pretty effective. I have solid uninsulated brick
walls. In winter, the walls behind radiators I have placed insulation behind
are clearly much colder (i.e. properly cold) than ones without the
insulation (warm to the touch). I suspect some of the effect comes from the
silvered surface, which reflects radiated heat back into the room.
The insulation is very thin so doesn't affect convection. However, compared
with solid brick, it probably more than quadruples the insulation value,
right where the hottest part of the room is. As a final advantage, you can
now repaint without removing the radiator, as you only have to paint up to
the insulation, easily reached with a paintbrush.
Christian.
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Archived message: Draining radiators (for fitting insulation) (UK DIY House Improvement)
